Lead generation system and methods

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for providing matching resources. One example method includes identifying example resources, evaluating query logs to determine queries including query terms that resolved to a given example resource, identifying matching resources other than the example resources that also were provided as a solution to the determined queries, filtering the matching resources based on one or more criteria to identify matching resources that are relevant to a consumer, and providing the filtered matching resources for output to the consumer.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 receiving from an advertiser an indication of an example resource, wherein the example resource is an example of a type of resource that the advertiser desires to target with a promotional campaign; 
 identifying one or more query logs wherein a given entry in the query log includes a query that was received and an identification of a resource that was selected as responsive to the query; 
 evaluating the one or more query logs to determine one or more queries including one or more query terms that resolved to the example resource; 
 using the determined one or more queries and the query logs, identifying one or more matching resources other than the example resource that also were provided as a solution to the one or more determined queries; 
 filtering the one or more matching resources based on one or more criteria to identify matching resources that are relevant to the advertiser, wherein filtering includes ranking the one or more matching resources based at least in part on a frequency of a respective matching resource being returned in response to the one or more queries as represented in the query logs and identifying one or more top ranked resources as leads wherein a lead can be used as a targeting criteria for the promotional campaign; and 
 providing suggestions to the advertiser including providing the leads for targeting content for the promotional campaign. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the example resource is a website. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein filtering includes filtering based at least in part on geo-location of the content sponsor associated with the example resource. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein filtering includes filtering based at least in part on a size of a business associated with the example resource including filtering out businesses associated with matching resources that are a different size. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein filtering includes filtering based at least in part on spend data associated with a sponsor of the example resource including filtering out sponsors of matching resources that have spend data that is substantially different from the spend data associated with the advertiser. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein filtering includes filtering based at least in part on a number of historical clicks in a time period associated with matching resources. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  further comprising evaluating the query logs and removing one or more words identified from the determined queries prior to locating matching resources. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  wherein filtering includes removing irrelevant businesses from the matching resources. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein filtering includes removing directories from the matching resources. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  wherein filtering includes determining a vertical classification associated with the example resource and filtering out matching resources that do not match the vertical classification. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1  further comprising identifying a sponsor of the matching resources and providing sponsor information to the advertiser. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein sponsor information includes contact information for the matching resource. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1  wherein the content sponsor is a sales representative and the matching resources are sales leads. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1  wherein sponsors of the matching resources are advertisers. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1  where the query logs include organic search results derived from a submission of the one or more queries to a search engine. 
     
     
       16. A method comprising:
 receiving from a consumer an indication of an example resource, wherein the example resource is an example of a resource that is similar to other resources which the consumer is seeking to identify wherein the resource is a web resource that includes one or more slots for supporting advertisements, the advertisements being provided by the consumer or other consumers; 
 identifying one or more query logs wherein a given entry in the query log includes selection criteria that was received and an identification of an advertisement that was selected as responsive to the selection criteria; 
 the one or more query logs to identify one or more matching resources other than the example resource that are a match for ones of the selection criteria; 
 filtering the one or more matching resources based on one or more criteria wherein filtering includes ranking the one or more matching resources based at least in part on a frequency of a respective matching resource being returned in response to the selection criteria as represented in the query logs and identifying one or more top ranked resources as leads wherein a lead can be used as a targeting criteria for a promotional campaign associated with the consumer; and 
 providing suggestions to the consumer including the leads. 
 
     
     
       17. A system comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a storage medium including software that when executed by the processor provides resources to advertisers, software including a resource identifier, a query log evaluator, a matching resource identifier, and a matching resource filter; 
 wherein the resource identifier is enabled to identify an example resource, wherein the example resource is an example of a type of resource that an advertiser desires to target with a promotional campaign; 
 wherein a given entry in a query log associated with the query log evaluator includes a query that was received and an identification of a resource that was selected as responsive to the query and wherein the query log evaluator is enabled to evaluate the query log entries to determine one or more queries including one or more query terms that resolved to the example resource; 
 wherein the matching resource identifier is enabled to identify one or more matching resources other than the example resource that also were provided as a solution to the one or more determined queries; and 
 wherein the matching resource filter is enabled to filter the one or more matching resources based on one or more criteria including ranking the one or more matching resources based at least in part on a frequency of a respective matching resource being returned in response to the one or more queries as represented in the query logs and identifying one or more top ranked resources as leads wherein a lead can be used as a targeting criteria for the promotional campaign.